Why The Shangri-La Is The Best Luxury Hotel In Paris

Katie Kelly Bell
, ContributorI cover the best in wine, spirits, hotels and travel.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Shangri-La Paris, view from suite

The former palace of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte, hugs the Seine in a quiet, tasteful corner of Paris. The property, named Palais Iéna, rests in the Eiffel Tower's elegant shadow, enjoying the city’s finest views of this iconic monument. Now home to The Shangri-La Hotel (for just over two years), it’s clear the team at the Shangri-La and Mr. Bonaparte share a keen eye for location. Oddly enough, Prince Bonaparte did not favor his stately abode’s knockout views of the Eiffel Tower. Indeed, he was so dismayed with Gustav Eiffel’s masterpiece that he insisted his private bedroom suite be built facing the street rather than the river.

Today those very views, along with the Palais Iéna's historical significance, are the singular aspects that make Shangri-La Paris the city’s most extraordinary luxury hotel. All luxury properties can offer seamless, silken service, exquisite amenities and spacious accommodations, but only one can offer unobstructed, up-close-and-personal front porch views of the Eiffel Tower with an added dose of Napoleonic splendor. It’s especially nice to sit back on your plumped up bed with a glass of Champagne and watch the Tower sparkle at nighttime.

In keeping with his royal bloodlines, the Prince also enjoyed a passion for elegance. The Shangi-La’s meticulous restoration of the property polished, dusted and returned the Bonaparte rooms to their former glory. Gold leaf mosaics, bronze wall reliefs of Napoleon and elaborate wall and ceiling murals make this place feel like any other museum in the city, save for the fact that this is where you are sleeping. The Roland Suite is also listed as a French Heritage site.

The spa and fitness center are housed in the palace’s former stables. It sounds interesting having a spa in a stable, but fret not, designer Pierre-Yves Rochon worked his magic on the space. It’s all anchored by a delicious pool, the largest indoor pool in Paris as a matter of fact, and saturated with abundant natural light from the wall of glass doors that open into a lush private outdoor terrace. In the fitness center you might care to note the bespoke carpeting and chinoiserie styled celadon wallpaper surrounding your treadmill.

Alas, you are in Paris and it’s a fair guess to assume you’ll be spending more time sightseeing than swimming. The hotel sits in the 16th arrondissement near to the Trocadero (and the Eiffel Tower of course). Museums are in abundance nearby including: Palais Galleria, Palais de Tokyo, Museum of Man, Museum of Modern Art and Marmottan Monet Museum. You might also visit the nearby Roy Chocolatier, specialists in small-batch, made on site chocolates for the true connoisseur.

The Shangri-La Paris is sumptuous in most every way, from the historically beautiful interiors and Michelin rated restaurants to the warm service and sweeping Eiffel Tower views. Prince Roland Bonaparte would surely be pleased with the look and feel of his former home—Eiffel Tower views and all.